Rapido Founders Booked by Nagpur RTO Over Alleged Illegal Bike Taxi Operations in Maharashtra
Nagpur RTO has filed a case against Rapido founders over alleged illegal bike taxi operations in Maharashtra. Authorities seized a privately registered motorcycle used for commercial rides during an enforcement drive, claiming the company lacked required approvals and violated transport regulations.
The case was filed at the Sitabuldi police station against Rishikesh S R, Pavan Guntupalli, and Aravind Sanka, the founders of Roopen Transportation Services Private Limited. The complaint was initiated by Vishal Madhukarrao Bhovte, a Motor Vehicle Inspector at the Nagpur Regional Transport Office (RTO), acting on behalf of the state government.
As per a report by The Economic Times, the authorities conducted a special enforcement drive on 23 June to identify illegal passenger transport operations. During this drive, officials successfully booked a ride via the Rapido app from Ravi Bhavan to Priyadarshini Colony for INR 22. The motorcycle that arrived for the booking was subsequently taken to the RTO office for a formal inspection. Rapido Founders Booked by Nagpur RTO Over Alleged Illegal Bike Taxi Operations in Maharashtra.
During the inspection, officials determined that the motorcycle, bearing registration number MH-31/GC-0850, was a privately registered vehicle being utilised for commercial purposes without the necessary permits or licences. The vehicle was seized immediately, and legal action was initiated under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.
The complaint alleges that Rapido lacks the requisite approval from the Maharashtra government or the Regional Transport Authority to run petrol-fuelled bike taxi services. Furthermore, authorities contend that by encouraging private vehicle owners to provide commercial transport, the company has bypassed safety regulations and contributed to financial losses for the state exchequer.
Ongoing Crackdown on Bike Aggregators
The legal action comes amid a broader regulatory crackdown in Maharashtra. In May 2026, the state government ordered a shutdown of unauthorised bike taxi applications, including those run by major aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido. State officials have consistently cited concerns regarding passenger safety, lack of driver verification, and the absence of a uniform policy for commercial two-wheeler operations. Shashank Singh, His Father Booked for Assaulting Cook in Bhopal; Punjab Kings Cricketer Says This.
The founders have been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Motor Vehicles Act, alongside Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. Further investigation into the company's operations across the state is currently underway.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2026 10:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
